John Barton
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jpbarton.bsky.social
John Barton
@jpbarton.bsky.social
370 followers 430 following 20 posts
Viruses, evolution, immunity, statistical physics | https://bartonlab.github.io
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Reposted by John Barton
dbikard.bsky.social
Deadline is approaching (Feb 9) to apply for a PI position at Institut Pasteur. Come join us and contribute to an amazing scientific environment!!!
January 19, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by John Barton
vscooper.micropopbio.org
🚨Call for papers🚨
Microbial Evolution: Impacts on Human Health
in the society journal Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health

Guest Editors: Bob Woods, Silvie Huijben & Camilo Barbosa
EIC: me

This will be great, please submit and share!
academic.oup.com/emph/pages/m...
Microbial Evolution: Impacts on Human Health Call for Papers A defining characteristic of infectious diseases is that they evolve. The consequences of this evolution are among the most pressing medical issues facing humanity, including emerging pandemics, antibiotic resistance, and the success or failure of vaccines. Pathogen evolution profoundly influences virulence, transmission, and responses to a broad array of human interventions. While the evolutionary dynamics of pathogens have historically been challenging to study, large-scale genomic sequencing, novel computational tools, and experimental methods are rapidly changing the field. We encourage submissions on the broad topic of the evolution of infectious diseases. This Special Issue aims to feature research that blends evolutionary approaches to understanding pathogen heterogeneity and ongoing genetic change in clinical samples and models of human infection. It also seeks to highlight opportunities to design treatment and prevention strategies that remain effective in the face of ongoing pathogen evolution. Submission – open until January 31, 2027 Guest editors Robert Woods, MD PhD, University of Michigan Camilo Barbosa, PhD, University of Michigan Silvie Huijben, PhD, Arizona State University
January 9, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by John Barton
ptdolan.bsky.social
Post-doc job alert! Please share with anyone who might be interested! @amersocvirology.bsky.social #virology #virosky #evolution
Postdoc Position in Virology (1yr, renewable) We are launching M+RVL, a new research group dedicated to better understanding the fundamental mechanisms of positive-strand RNA virus replication. Supported by the LabEx NetRNA research cluster, the team is based within the Mosquito Models of Innate Immunity (M3I) unit at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology (IBMC) in Strasbourg, France. Strasbourg is a lively city in northeastern France that offers a high quality of life, a vibrant university system, and a historic city center at the heart of Europe. Research Focus Replication organelles (ROs) are membrane-bound compartments that drive genome replication in positive-strand RNA viruses. Mosquito-borne viruses must assemble ROs in both mosquito and vertebrate hosts, which are separated by hundreds of millions of years of evolution. While structural biology has revealed the architecture of ROs in human cells, structure alone cannot explain their assembly, dynamics, and host-specific interactions, highlighting the need for integrative approaches. To address this gap, M+RVL integrates high-throughput genetics, proteomics, and computational modeling to dissect the mechanisms governing RO formation and function across hosts. Research Leadership The group is led by William Bakhache, Ph.D. Essential Skills: Strong background in virology, molecular biology, and biochemistry techniques. Desired Experience: Experience handling BSL-3 pathogens; expertise in computational biology (e.g., NGS analysis, proteomics data analysis, structural modeling). How to Apply Please send a single PDF containing a cover letter (detailing past and future research interests), a CV, and contact information for two references to williambakhache@hotmail.com.
January 8, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Reposted by John Barton
jessicahullman.bsky.social
“It’s open season on the unabashedly earnest” feels right lately. In 1967 Brackman called it “the put-on”: ambiguity that makes you question if you're a sucker

I wrote abt how genAI scales put-ons & erodes signs of sincerity, & which I hope stay sacred
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2026/01/07/i...
It’s open season on the unabashedly earnest | Statistical Modeling, Causal Inference, and Social Science
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu
January 7, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Reposted by John Barton
davidasivak.bsky.social
Interested in the intersection of nonequilibrium thermodynamics and biophysics? Think Canada might be a nice place for your PhD/postdoc? Talk to me! Brand-new funding opportunity has quick deadline (so likely undersubscribed). nserc-crsng.canada.ca/en/news/laun...
SFU internal deadline Feb 11
Launch of new Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards
As announced in Budget 2025 -
nserc-crsng.canada.ca
January 6, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Reposted by John Barton
soreklab.bsky.social
NLR-like immunity in bacteria

A new study from the Alex Gao lab. The scope of this work is incredible!!!

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Diverse bacterial pattern recognition receptors sense the conserved phage proteome
Recognition of foreign molecules inside cells is critical for immunity in all domains of life. Proteins of the STAND NTPase superfamily, including eukaryotic nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain ...
www.biorxiv.org
January 5, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by John Barton
acarroll.bsky.social
I've been thinking about the "virtual cell" concept and wanted to write up a few thoughts. Specifically on how I think the prior experience in GWAS informs the most likely way these models will be useful.

andrewcarroll.github.io/2025/12/23/t...
The Virtual Cell Will Be More Like Gwas Than Alphafold
There has been significant discussion recently on the concept of the “virtual cell.” I want to summarize the key concepts regarding what the field wants from a virtual cell and the challenges we face....
andrewcarroll.github.io
December 24, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Reposted by John Barton
meganodris.bsky.social
The final piece of my PhD work is now published in Science Translational Medicine! We present a new framework to jointly infer epidemiological and antigenic parameters from multi-pathogen population serological studies🦠

www.science.org/stoken/autho...
December 18, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Reposted by John Barton
evoldir.bsky.social
PhD position available at the University of Bern in Prof. Claudia Bank's lab. Application deadline: Jan 9, 2026. Ideal for candidates with a strong math and programming background. More info: https://banklab.github.io/positions/ #phd
Positions | Theoretical Ecology and Evolution
Positions | Theoretical Ecology and Evolution
banklab.github.io
December 11, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by John Barton
matsen.bsky.social
Over the past 5+ years I've had the honor of working with @wsdewitt.github.io @victora.bsky.social and many others on a project to "replay" affinity maturation evolution from a fixed starting point.

matsen.group/general/2025...
Replaying evolution to learn about the fitness landscape of affinity maturation
A five year collaboration with the Victora lab is bearing fruit for evolutionary biology.
matsen.group
December 11, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Reposted by John Barton
dereklowe.bsky.social
I will never forget and never forgive these actions. And there are so many, with so many people carrying these orders out while others laugh and clap and post excited selfies about it all.

Justice has to be served.
agawande.bsky.social Atul Gawande @agawande.bsky.social · Dec 11
Read to the end. NPR asked why the Trump team ended a low-cost program that cured millions of tropical diseases w drugs donated by pharma. The spokesperson replied with an NPR headline—“Farewell to USAID”—and said: “What do you think farewell meant?” www.npr.org/sections/goa...
The fight to beat neglected tropical diseases was going well. 2025 could change that
The campaign to prevent and treat these diseases has seen great success thanks to a USAID program. Now that program is gone.
www.npr.org
December 11, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Reposted by John Barton
wcratcliff.bsky.social
1/28 New preprint up, which I think is the best theoretical idea I've ever had. We asked a simple question: what are the costs of investment into non-reproductive somatic cells? Turns out these costs decrease with the *logarithm* of organism size!

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
The fitness costs of reproductive specialization scale inversely with organismal size
The evolution of reproductive specialization represents a fundamental innovation in multicellular life, yet the conditions favoring its evolution remain poorly understood. Here, we develop a populatio...
www.biorxiv.org
December 9, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Reposted by John Barton
drhhnz.bsky.social
It’s officially happening folks! The Microbial Population Biology Gordon Research Conference is back in Andover, New Hampshire starting June 27th of 2027!
See you there!!

@wcratcliff.bsky.social @ksbakes.bsky.social @surtlab.bsky.social

#microsky #mevosky
Screenshot from GRC portal confirming microbial population biology meeting June 27, 2027 in Andover, New Hampshire.
December 10, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Reposted by John Barton
pasteur.fr
🔬 Call to create junior research groups at the Institut Pasteur

Focus: Infectious diseases, host-microbe interactions, vaccines
Special interest: AI methodologies

📅 Deadline: Feb 9, 2026
👥 2-12 years post-PhD

Apply now 📝 research.pasteur.fr/en/call/crea...

#JobOpportunity #Research
Creation of new junior research groups at the Institut Pasteur - Call for applications 2026 - Research
The Institut Pasteur is launching an international call to recruit new junior research group leaders leveraging cutting-edge transdisciplinary approaches to exploring infectious diseases, host-microbe...
research.pasteur.fr
December 8, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Reposted by John Barton
aatishb.bsky.social
While the administration has said it is cutting “woke programs” that “poison the minds of Americans", it actually funded fewer grants in every area of science and medicine.

“They brought everything to a stop,” said Sarah Kobrin, a branch chief at the N.I.H.’s National Cancer Institute
The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine (Gift Article)
A quiet policy change means the government is making fewer bets on long-term science.
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Reposted by John Barton
apragsdale.bsky.social
Wisconsin Evolution is accepting applications for our Seminar Series' Early Career Scientist Award. Come share your evolution research and visit UW-Madison's evolution community. Open to grad students and postdocs (<5 yrs post PhD) from outside UW-Madison.

Apply by Dec 15th here: shorturl.at/4a4O6
Early Career Scientist Awards 2026
Application to the UW-Madison Evolution Seminar Series - Early Career Scientist Awards.
urldefense.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Reposted by John Barton
benjaminhgood.bsky.social
It's been a busy few months for our group so wanted to highlight a few other recent preprints we’ve posted that I haven’t had the chance to share yet... (1/n)
benjaminhgood.bsky.social Ben Good @benjaminhgood.bsky.social · Nov 12
Excited to share some new work led by grad student Sophie Walton (w/ @petrovadmitri.bsky.social). We used in vitro gut communities to study how natural selection acts on strains of the same species as they compete within larger communities. Check out Sophie's thread below for details!
sophiejwalton.bsky.social Sophie Jean Walton @sophiejwalton.bsky.social · Nov 11
Super excited that the bulk of my PhD work is now preprinted! Here we used whole-community competition, or coalescence, experiments to quantify selection acting on genetically diverged strains within larger communities. (1/n)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 16, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Reposted by John Barton
thearmita.bsky.social
excited that this paper is finally out in @pnas.org :
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Led by Gian Marco Visani (effort initiated by Michael Pun), fantastic collaboration with @pgtimmune.bsky.social @asya-minervina.bsky.social and Phil Bradley.
October 16, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Reposted by John Barton
thearmita.bsky.social
excited to announce that this January we are relocating to Yale to start a theory initiative at the Center for Systems and Engineering Immunology (CSEI): @yalecsei.bsky.social

looking to hire 2 postdocs to join us in this endeavor.

more details can be found here: sites.google.com/uw.edu/statp...
SPE - join us
Postdoctoral position: In January 2026, we are relocating to Yale university to start a theory initiative at the Center for Systems and Engineering Immunology (CSEI). We are looking for talented postd...
sites.google.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Reposted by John Barton
roshnipatel.bsky.social
reminder that my (wonderful, diverse, interdisciplinary) department at the University of Oregon is seeking applications for an Associate/Full Professor of Data Science -- deadline 10/31 and only cover letter/CV needed to apply

academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30328
University of Oregon, Department of Data Science
Job #AJO30328, 535565 Associate or Full Professor of Data Science, Department of Data Science, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, US
academicjobsonline.org
October 22, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Reposted by John Barton
pitt-immunology.bsky.social
🚨 Faculty position alert! 🚨The Center for Systems Immunology (CSI) and @pitt-immunology.bsky.social are seeking to appoint a tenure-stream Assistant Professor. Learn more and apply: bit.ly/3L42cGS
Graphic announcing that the Center for Systems Immunology and the University of Pittsburgh Department of Immunology are hiring an Assistant Professor in Systems Immunology. To learn more or apply, visit join.pitt.edu and search 24007498 under Faculty Positions
October 20, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Reposted by John Barton
gcbias.bsky.social
We're excited to be recruiting an NIH funded postdoc to work in the Coop lab at UC Davis. We're specifically interested in candidates who are want to work at the intersection of human genetics, GWAS, and population genetics modeling. Please RT
October 15, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by John Barton
clauswilke.com
Biology is much more complicated than most non-biologists can imagine. And AI is not going to change this anytime soon.
blog.genesmindsmachines.com/p/we-still-c...
We still can’t predict much of anything in biology
Biology is hard. Yes, even for AI.
blog.genesmindsmachines.com
October 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by John Barton
vscooper.micropopbio.org
Reposting, submit soon!
vscooper.micropopbio.org Vaughn Cooper @vscooper.micropopbio.org · Sep 23
🚨 Microbiologists! We are recruiting Assistant / Associate Professors in 3 collaborative areas of our U. Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
1) MMG (my dept): fundamental research in med micro
2) Peds ID / I4Kids institute
3) Center for Vaccine Research
🔗 to all 3 w/info: www.linkedin.com/posts/vaughn...
Faculty Professor Associate - Full-Time | Vaughn Cooper
We are recruiting Faculty microbiologists in three (3) different, complementary, and collaborative areas at the University of Pittsburgh associated with the School of Medicine. 1) Fundamental researc...
www.linkedin.com
October 8, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Reposted by John Barton
gbazykin.bsky.social
Now hiring a computational postdoc (evolutionary genomics, molecular evolution) in my lab at Emory University.
If you’re interested in population genetics, fitness landscapes, and viral evolution — get in touch.
faculty-emory.icims.com/jobs/151181/...
Careers | Emory University | Atlanta GA
faculty-emory.icims.com
September 18, 2025 at 3:38 PM